"They want to deal with you."
"But they haven't said how. It was probably their first meeting, and they didn't talk in much depth."
"Right. What, you're coming back? Okay."
Before the words had faded, someone appeared on the Bronze Steps.
Lu Feiming.
"I'm starving. Let's go eat somewhere," he said, rubbing his stomach.
"Why make the trip? I bought self-heating Hot Pot and a few kinds of rice bowls," Xu Yuan said.
"That works. Let's eat those."
The two got busy, heating the Hot Pot and preparing the rice dishes.
They opened two cans of chilled soda.
Then they sat in the courtyard behind the Small Tower, eating and drinking.
"What have you been busy with lately?" Xu Yuan asked.
"I went back to check on the Pet Shop. Liang Kun's doing all right. The cats and dogs are obedient and listen to him," Lu Feiming said.
"What's happening with the Ancient God?" Xu Yuan asked.
"Whenever I go looking for it, all its organs piece themselves together into a complete body, and we fight until heaven and earth go dark," Lu Feiming said, a trace of weariness in his eyes.
Xu Yuan imagined all those organs joining into a body.
No one would want to see that.
"Neither of you can do anything to the other," Xu Yuan said.
"Right."
"No wonder it went looking for your Mission. It wants to team up against you."
"My Mission isn't stupid. He'll string it along and won't let himself be used so easily."
"What if they corner you?" Xu Yuan asked.
"I've still got you," Lu Feiming said as though it were obvious.
"Me?" Xu Yuan pointed at himself.
"The Crown is the king of laws. It's powerful, and even stronger when fused with an Imago. You're bound to become